Strong Finish Propels Utah Past Indiana, 11-2

Thursday, March 13

Fresno, Calif.

2:00 PM

University of Utah

6-8

Indiana

5-7

Indiana

University of Utah

3/13/2008 12:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 13, 2008

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah baseball team out-slugged Indiana, 15-7, here at the Pepsi Johnny Quick Tournament as the Utes finished the game with nine unanswered runs to topple the Hoosiers, 11-2.

The game was tied 2-2 in the fourth when the Utes broke it open in the bottom of that inning. They plated three runs to take the 5-2 lead. Another three runs in the fifth and seventh innings boosted the Utes to the nine-run win.

"Brian Budrow only threw two or three innings at Oregon State in two years there," said head coach Bill Kinneberg. "In four starts this year, though, he's had three very good outings. He gets strikes with his slider, and he's been very effective out there for us.

"Cooper Blanc hit two hard, big home runs for us today. He hit the ball well and in good spots this afternoon. He pushed us over the hump today with a couple key at bats."

Seven Utah batters had multiple hits today. It was led by the 3-for-5, five-RBI effort of Cooper Blanc. He homered in back-to-back innings to give Utah what it needed to bag the victory. The center fielder belted a three-run shot in the fourth to put Utah up for good. He followed that up with a one-out, two-RBI shot in the fifth.

Another six Utah batters had two hits today, as Corey Shimada and Michael Beltran went 2-for-4 with two RBI each.

Brian Budrow got the nod, and he earns his second straight win on the mound. His 12-strikeout, two-walk, seven-hit showing lifted his season record to 2-1. He threw for eight innings of work, allowing only two earned runs.

"It looks like we're sitting pretty good in this tournament," continued Kinneberg. "Today we had a complete performance. I thought we swung the bats well, played solid defense, and had strong pitching performances. We put it together, today, and it was nice."

An RBI double in the top of the first gave Indiana a 1-0 lead. Utah, which was held hitless in the first two innings, finally got on the board with a four-hit, two run third inning. A pair of leadoff singles in the third allowed Shimada's single to plate Beltran, cutting Indiana's lead in half. Another RBI single, this time off the bat of Jesse Shriner, tied the game. He scored Nick Kuroczko, allowing Utah to take its first lead of the game.

However, an error in the top of the fourth allowed Indiana to tie it, 2-2.

Then Blanc stepped to the plate in the fourth and fifth innings to blast Utah into the lead for good. His efforts were followed by a three-run seventh. Beltran had a two-RBI double and Shimada recorded another RBI single to give Utah the nine-run lead.

Joey O'Gara took the loss in falling to 0-1 this year. He allowed 11 of Utah's 15 hits and eight earned runs. Josh Phegley was the only IU batter with more than one hit. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI today.

The final round-robin game of the tournament for Utah is tomorrow. The Utes and host Fresno State will do battle at 6 p.m. (PT).